If I have Spinal Decompression therapy, how much time does this take to see benefits?
Most patients show a decrease in pain after the first few sessions. Generally, substantial improvement is obtained by the second week of treatment.
How long does it take to complete Spinal Decompression treatment?
Patients are on the system for 30-45 mins, three times a week for several weeks depending on the severity of the condition.
Do I qualify for Spinal Decompression treatment?
Since I started using Spinal Decompression system, I’ have been inundated with questions from both medical professionals and patients as to which cases it will best help. Undoubtedly proper patient selection is essential to favorable outcomes, so let me explain to you of the Inclusion and Exclusion criteria so you can make the best decision since not everybody qualifies for Spinal Decompression therapy.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Pain due to herniated and bulging lumbar disks that is in excess of 4 weeks old
- Recurrent pain from a failed back surgery that is at least 6 months old.
- Constant pain from degenerated disk not responding to 4 weeks of therapy.
- Patients available for 4 weeks of treatment protocol.
- Patient at least 18 years of age.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Appliances like pedicle screws and rods
- Pregnancy
- Prior lumbar fusion less than 6 months old
- Metastatic cancer
- Severe osteoporosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Compression fracture of lumbar spine below L-1
- Pars defect.
- Pathologic aortic aneurysm.
- Abdominal or pelvic cancer.
- Disk space infections.
- Severe peripheral neuropathy.
- Hemiplegia, paraplegia, or cognitive dysfunction.
Are there any negative side effects to the treatment?
The majority patients do not experience any side effects. There have been some mild cases of muscle spasm for a brief period of time.
How does Spinal Decompression separate each vertebra and permit decompression at a specific level?
Decompression is obtained using a specific mix of spinal positioning and varying the degree and intensity of force. The trick to producing this decompression is the gentle pull that is created by a logarithmic curve. When distractive forces are produced on a logarithmic curve the typical proprioceptor response is avoided. Avoiding this response allows decompression to occur at the targeted area.
Are there any risk to the patient during therapy on Spinal Decompression?
Absolutely Not. Spinal Decompression is entirely safe and comfortable for all patients. The system has emergency stop switches for both the patient and the operator. These switches (a requirement of the FDA) cancel the treatment instantly thereby preventing any injuries.
How does Spinal Decompression therapy differ from ordinary spinal traction?
Traction is useful at treating some of the conditions arising from herniated or degeneration. Traction can’t take care of the source of the problem. Spinal Decompression produces a negative pressure inside the disc. This effect causes the disk to pull in the herniation and the rise in negative pressure also triggers the circulation of blood and nutrients back into the disk enabling the body’s natural fibroblastic response to heal the injury and re-hydrate the disc. Traction and inversion tables, at best, can lower the intradiscal pressure from a +90 to a +30 mmHg. Spinal Decompression is clinically shown to decrease the intradiscal pressure to between a -150 to -200 mmHg. Traction leads to the body’s normal response to stretching by creating painful muscle spasms that exacerbate the pain in affected area.
Can Spinal Decompression be used for patients that have had spinal surgery?
In most cases Spinal Decompression treatment is not contra-indicated for patients that have had spinal surgery. Many patients have found success with Spinal Decompression after a failed back surgery.
Who is not a potential candidate for Spinal Decompression therapy?
Anybody who has recent spinal fractures, surgical fusion or metallic hardware, surgically repaired aneurysms, infection of the spine, and/or moderate to severe osteoporosis.
Who is a candidate for Spinal Decompression?
Anybody who has been told they need surgery but wishes to avoid it, anyone who has been advised there is nothing more available to help, anybody who failed to substantially respond to conservative methods (medications, physical therapy, injections, chiropractic, acupuncture), or anyone who still has pain but wishes to obtain the sort of care they want.
